# CVE-2020-36398: Cross-site scripting in n/a

> Attackers can execute arbitrary scripts via the Campaign field in phplist, potentially compromising user sessions or data.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 2 Jul 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** BIT-phplist-2020-36398, GHSA-g96g-xvcf-qfmw

## What is CVE-2020-36398?

CVE-2020-36398 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in n/a, published on 2 Jul 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

A stored cross site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in phplist 3.5.4 and below allows attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML via a crafted payload in the "Campaign" field under the "Send a campaign" module.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-36398?

1 open source package ship an affected version, including phplist. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `phplist` | Bitnami | All versions | 3.5.4 |

Products: Phplist Phplist.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-36398?

Upgrade phplist to 3.5.4 or later.

## Is CVE-2020-36398 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-36398 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2020-22249](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-22249/): File upload in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-23361](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-23361/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-3188](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-3188/): Other in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-8547](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8547/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-15072](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-15072/): SQL injection in n/a (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-36398 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-36398 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in n/a, published on 2 Jul 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-36398 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- phplist (Bitnami): affected all versions; fixed in 3.5.4

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-36398/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-36398/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-36398
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-36398
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-36398

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-36398/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.